Plate type heat exchanger



ck. l, 1950 MQRRIS 2,528,013

PLATE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Aug. 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -i---Al mu 33 3f A/be/"TO J Morris lnvenror" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR ALBERTO J. MORRIS A. J. MORRKS PLATE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Aug. 17, 1945 lllrlllllllnllllfllllll\llv\ Patented Get. 31, 1950 PLATE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER Alberto Jorge Morris, Dursley, England, assignor to R. A. Lister & Company Limited, Dursley, England, a British company Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 611,013 In Great Britain December 18, 1944 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to heat-exchangers for effecting a transfer of heat between two or more substances and has for its object to provide an improved construction which is easy to manufacture on a production basis and in particular, can be dismantled and reassembled without increasing the liability to leakage.

According to the invention a heat-exchanger comprises a series of heat-transfer plates, each plate having in one face a number of grooves extending in the same general direction to form a set of fluid passages and having in its other face a number of grooves directed at an angle to those in the first face and forming a second set of fluid passages independent of the first set, the plates on assembly having similarly directed grooves on adjacent faces and having alternate pairs of groove sets angularly displaced.

The grooves in each face of a heat-transfer plate may be connected at each end with one or more ports formed in the plate, the ports connected to the grooves on one face of the plate being separate from the ports connected to the grooves on the other face of the plate and corresponding ports registering with one another on assembly of the plates to form ducts for leading fluid to and from the grooves.

The ducts for leading the fluid to and from the grooves may be connected in parallel.

The heat-transfer plates may be combined with headers disposed at each end of the assembled plates.

One or more distributing blocks may be arranged intermediately in the heat-transfer plates Of the heat-exchanger between the headers so that the heat exchanger is divided into two or more sections, the distributing blocks being arranged With appropriate compartments and ports so that heat-transfer may be effected between more than two fluids.

A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrate d in the accompanying drawings where- Figure 1 is a front end elevation of one embodiment of a heat-exchanger accordingto the invention, while Figure 2 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the heat-exchanger illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with a number of the heat-transfer plates removed.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of the heattransfer plates of the heat-exchanger illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, while Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged part-section of four of the assembled plates of the heat-exchanger illustratcd in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure '7 is an elevation of a modified form of heat-exchanger according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a partial view corresponding to Figure 4 showing a modified form of heat-exchanger plate.

Figure 19 illustrates a minor modification.

In one embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the heat-exchanger comprises headers H and I2 with which the required number of heat-transfer plates 13 are assembled. The headers It and i2 and the plates l3 are secured together by through-going bolts id.

The header I l is divided diagonally by a partition [5 into two compartments l6 and I! which are separate from each other. The compartment I6 is formed with two ports l8 and H] on its inner face and with a pipe connection 20 on its outer face, while the compartment I1 is similarly formed with two ports 2! and 22 and a pipe connection 23.

The header l2, Figure 2, is similarly formed. to the header l but in this case the ports 24 and 25 in the header l2 which communicate with the ports :8 and i9 through the heat-transfer plates id as hereinafter described, are arranged at the bottom of theheader I2, while the ports 2.6 and 2! which similarly communicate with the ports 2! and 2-2 in the header H are arranged at the side of the header RE which is opposite the ports 2! and 22 when assembled in opposed spaced relation to the header H. A partition 28 div-ides the header I2 diagonally into two separate compartments 2S and 3!), the compartment 29 containing' the ports 26 and 21, and the compartment as containing the ports 24 and 25. The compartment 29 is fitted with a pipe connection ti and the compartment 36 is fitted with a pipe connection 32.

The heat-transfer plates 53 have an external shape corresponding to that of the headers H and i2 and in the present embodiment both headers and plates are of square shape with rounded corners. Each of the plates l3 has a series of sinuous grooves 33', Figures 4 to 6, on, say, its front face and a series of similar grooves 34 on its rear face, the general direction of the grooves 33 and 34 being at right angles to one another. The grooves 33 at their left-hand ends open into ports 35 and 315 formed in the plate i3 and at their right-hand ends open into ports 3? and 38 also formed inthis plate. The grooves 34 Figure 5,, at their upper ends open into ports 39 and 4B and at their lower ends open into ports 4! and 52. The ports 39, II M and 42 are formed in the plate I3. The plates I3 are provided with holes 43 for the bolts I4 which secure the headers II and I2 and the plates I3 together. Grooves 44, Figures 5 and 6, for sealing purposes may be formed round the jointing faces of the plates I3. If desired, gaskets 35 may be fitted between the juxtaposed faces of the plates I3 and between the end plates and the headers II and I2 to ensure fiuidtight joints therebetween.

The heat-transfer plates I3 are interchangeable.

In assembling the heat-transfer plates, two of these plates 45 and 4?, Figure 6, are arranged with the grooves 33 on their front faces facing each other as shown, a gasket 35 being interposed between their adjacent faces. Two other plates 68 and 49 are assembled one on each side of the plates 46 and ll, the grooves 34 on the rear faces of the latter plates facing the grooves 34 on the plates 48 and 49. Gaskets 35 are inserted between the rear faces of the plates 46 and 4? and the rear faces of the plates 48 and 43. The front faces of each of the next two plates to be assembled are then disposed with their rear faces adjacent to the rear faces of the plates 48 and 49 so that the grooves 33 on the latter plates face similar grooves on the plates to be assembled therewith, and so on until the required number of plates I3 have been assembled together with the headers II and I2. Pairs of horizontal groove sets 33 thus alternate with pairs of vertical groove sets 34 throughout the heat-exchanger.

When the plates I3 are assembled with the headers II and I2, the ports 35, 3t and 37, 38 of all these plates are in register with one another and form four ducts through the assembled plates. There are thus formed two ducts by the ports 35, 36 adjacent to the left-hand sides of the assembled plates I 3 and two ducts by the ports 37, 38 adjacent to the right-hand sides of the plates. Moreover, two ducts are similarly formed in the assembled plates I 3 adjacent to the top thereof by the ports 39, 40 and two ducts are formed adjacent to the bottom of these plates by the ports M, 62.

The ducts formed by the ports 35, 36 are in communication with the left-hand ends of the grooves 33 in all the plates, while the ducts formed I by the ports 37, 38 are in communication with the right-hand ends of the grooves 33. Similarly, the ducts formed by the ports 33, 4!! are in communication with the upper ends of the grooves 3 3 in all the plates I 3, while the ducts formed by the ports M, 42 are in communication with the lower ends of the grooves 34 in all the plates of the heat-exchanger.

As the left-hand ends of the grooves 33 of the plates I3 open into the ports 35, 35 and as the right-hand ends of these grooves open into the ports 31, 38 the ducts formed by these ports on assembly of the plates I3 are connected in parallel by the grooves 33. Further, when the headers II and I2 are assembled with the plates I3, the ports 2| and 22 in the compartment I? of the header and the pipe connection 23 in this header are in communication with the ducts formed by the ports 35, 38 in the plates I3, while the ports 26 and 21 of the header I2 are in communication with the ducts formed by the ports 37, 38. Fluid may thus flow through the pipe connection 23 to the compartment I? and from this compartment through the ports 2| and 22 in the header I I to the ducts formed by the ports 35, 36 to the grooves 33 and through these grooves I to the ducts formed by the ports 31, 38 and thence through the ports 26 and 21 in the header I2 to the compartment 29 therein and from this compartment to the pipe connection 3I or vice versa.

Similarly, as the upper ends of the grooves 34 of the plates I3 open into the ports 39, 4B in these plates and as the lower ends of these grooves open into the ports II, G2 the ducts formed by these ports on assembly of the plates are connected in parallel by the grooves 34. Further, when the headers I I and I2 are assembled with the plates I3, the ports I8 and I9 in the compartment I6 of the header II and the pipe connection 20 in this header are in communication with the ducts formed by the ports 39, 40 in the plates I 3, while the pipe connection 32 and the ports 24 and 25 in the header I2 are in communication with the ducts formed by the assembly of the ports III, 42. Fluid may thus flow through the pipe connection 32, compartment 33 and ports 24 and 25 of the header I2 and thence through the ducts formed by the assembled ports GI, 42 and upwards through the grooves 34 to the ducts formed by the assembled ports 39, db and thereafter through the ports I 8 and IS in the header I I into the compartment is therein and from this compartment to the pipe connec tion 26 or vice versa.

A cooling fluid, for example, may thus enter the heat-exchanger through the pipe connection 23 of the header II and after passing through the heat-transfer plates I3 in the above manner to the header I2 leave the heat-exchanger by the pipe connection 3I of the latter header, while a fluid to be cooled may enter the header I2 by the pipe connection 32 and after passing through the heat-transfer plates I3 to the header I I leave the latter header by the pipe connection 20.

In those cases where it is desired to deal with, say, three fluids, a distributing block may be inserted between two groups of plates in a heat exchanger as above described so that the distributing block is disposed intermediately between the headers II and I2. In one such arrangement illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, theheat-exchanger comprises headers II and I2 as above described and two groups 50, 5| of plates I3 spaced apart by a distributing block 52. The distributing block comprises (Figure 8) a closed box-like structure divided by internal walls 53 into three compartments EI, 62, 53 and provided with three pipe connections 54, 55, 56 one for each compartment. In one end wall, ports 51, 58 are formed in adjacent edges to register respectively with two sets of ports in the group of plates and to open respectively into compartments 63 and 62, and in the other end wall two sets of ports 59, 66 are formed in adjacent edges to register with two sets of ports in the group of plates 5i and to open respectively into the compartments El and 62.

In employing such an arrangement in a marine engine plant for cooling lubricating oil and for absorbing heat from engine exhaust steam, sea water may enter by the top header II and flow downwards through one set of grooves in the plates I3 of the upper group 58, through ports 58 into compartment 52 in the distributing block 52 and then through this compartment 62 and downwards through ports 59 to the corresponding set of grooves in the plates I3 of the lower group SI to the bottom header I2 from which it is dis charged, The exhaust steam to be condensed enters the compartment 63 in the distributing block 52 through pipe connection 56 and flows upwards through ports 51 to the second set of grooves in the plates I 3 of group 59 to the top header II from which it is discharged in a condensed condition. The lubricating oil to be cooled may enter by the bottom header l2 and flow through the second set of grooves in the plates of the group and ports 69 int compartment 6| in the distributing block 52 from which it is discharged through pipe connection 54 in a cooled condition. In this case, pipe connection 55 is blanked off.

Alternatively, the sea water may enter com-- partment 62 in the distributing block 52 through pipe connection 55 and flow inboth directions through corresponding grooves in the plates IS in the upper and lower groups 56, 5| to the top and bottom headers H and I2 while the engine exhaust steam enters by the top header H and flows downwards through the second set of grooves in the plates l3 of the upper group 59 into compartment 63 of the distributing block 52 from which it is discharged through pipe connection 56, while the lubricating oil enters by the bottom header i2 and flows upwards through the second set of grooves in the plates 13 of group 5| into compartment 6| in the distributing block 52 from which it is discharged through pipe connection 54.

Instead of the grooves in the heat-exchange plates 13 being sinuous as illustrated in Figure 4. they may be straight as indicated at I33 in Figure 9.

When a heat-exchanger as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 is used, for example, for cooling a liquid for human consumption, the heattransfer plates of the exchanger are secured together in pairs, the channels formed by the grooves 0n the abutting faces of each pair being selected to carry the coolant. The plates of each pair may be secured together in any convenient manner for example by welding their contacting edges as illustrated at I I3 in Figure 10. The pairs are then assembled with one another and with the headers l l and 12 by readily detachable means such as the through-going bolts l4;

When it is desired to clean the channels in the plates through which the liquid to be cooled is conveyed, the through-going bolts [4 are slackened-off and removed and the pairs of plates separated from one another so that the pairs of plates have their end faces, the grooves in which convey the liquid to be cooled, open for inspection and cleaning.

Further, in some cases, instead of conveying a coolant through channels between the pairs of plates a heating fluid may be passed therethrough.

It will be appreciated that as it is not necessary to disturb the joints between the plates of each pair, the dismantling of the heat-exchanger for cleaning purposes and its re-assembly are substantially expedited.

The number of heat-transfer plates employed in a heat-exchanger or in a section thereof depends upon the amount of heat to be imparted or absorbed.

The heat-exchangers above described may be used in connection with gases, vapours or mixtures thereof or with liquids. One of the fluids may be a liquid and the other fluid or fluids may be a gas, vapour, or a mixture of gas and vapour.

The heat-exchangers according to the invention may be used either for heating 0; c olin a fluid or fluids and are particularly applicable to condensers.

I claim:

1. A heat-exchanger comprising a plurality of like plates in a stack, each plate having a plurality of substantially parallel grooves on each face thereof, having the grooves on one face substantially at right angles to the grooves on the other face, and having four sets of port means formed in the marginal portions of the plates each set of port means having an extent peripherally of the plate to communicate with corresponding ends of the plurality of grooves on one face of the plate, the plates having similarly extending grooves on their adjacent faces, and a pair of headers one disposed at each end of the stack of plates, each header having a, pair of chambers separated by a common wall, and having in the wall thereof facing the stack of plates two sets of port means, the said sets of port means respectively communicating with the chambers and respectively registering with one set of the port means of the plates.

2. A heat-exchanger comprising a plurality of like substantially rectangular plates, each having a plurality of grooves on each face thereof, the grooves on one face being substantially parallel to one pair of opposite edges of the plate and those on the other face being substantially parallel to the other pair of opposite edges, and each plate having a port formed therein along the marginal portion of each of the edges thereof, said plates being disposed side by side with the faces thereof having similarly extending grooves facing one another and the corresponding marginal ports in register, whereby the marginal ports along each pair of opposite edges communicate with one set of parallel grooves formed between the plate, and a pair of headers one disposed at each end of said plates, each headercomprising a pair of header chambers separated by a partition, and each header chamber having an outlet connection and a port communicating with a marginal port in the adjacent plate.

3. A heat-exchanger according to claim 2, in which the ports in the chambers of each header communicate with marginal ports in the adjacent plate along each of two edges of said plate substantially at right angles to each other.

4. A heat-exchanger according to claim 2, in

which the chamber outlet connections open out of the respective headers on two opposite sides of the heat-exchanger, so that fluid entering through any outlet connection on one end of the heat-exchanger will be guided to emerge out of a connection means on the opposite end of the heat exchanger.

ALBERTO JORGE MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany July 24, 1939 

